The online e-learning programme Type 2 Diabetes has and Me has won a BMA Patient Information Award 2014 in the ‘long-term conditions’ special category.

The annual awards recognise innovative ways of making information for patients easy to understand and accessible.

Type 2 Diabetes and Me was developed by Diabetes UK and Bupa to help empower people with Type 2 diabetes to lead healthy lives. It teaches them how to manage their condition and reduce the risk of complications associated with the condition, such as blindness and amputation.

Launched in June 2013, it now has almost 17,500 registered users, including Tony Hatcher, 61 from Kent.

Tony said: “I found Type 2 Diabetes and Me has really helped me understand what diabetes is doing to my body and the ways I can manage it. Every one of the seven modules is really important and has made me re-evaluate a few bad habits too. I would definitely recommend the course to anyone with Type 2 diabetes as the more you know about the condition, the more you can work with it. My diabetes is not going to rule my life any more than it needs to.”

Tracy Kelly, head of clinical care at Diabetes UK, said: “We are delighted that this tool has been recognised and that it is making a difference in helping people with Type 2 diabetes feel more confident in managing their condition on a day-to-day basis.

“Currently only 12% of people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are offered structured education courses by the NHS to help them self-manage their diabetes and this needs to dramatically improve.

“Yet we know that there are barriers that prevent many people who are offered education from taking it up or attending. The success of Type 2 Diabetes and Me shows that people learn in different ways and need to be offered courses that fit in around work and family commitments.

“Our online course also acts as a taster to show people with Type 2 diabetes the real improvements that can be made to their health through a better understanding of their diabetes. This may help to persuade them that the time taken to attend local face-to-face structured education courses can be highly rewarding.”